Clothes-line tightener.



No. 654,337. Patent-ed luly 24, |900. S. P. YEATMAN.

GLDTHES LINE TIGHTENER.

(Application filed Nov. 8, 1899.) (No Model.)

Unrrnn STATES- PATENT jnrrcn.

SAMUEL P, YEATMAN, OF BEATRICE, NEBRASKA.

CLOTHES-LINE TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,337, datedl July 24, 1900. Application filed November 3, 1899. Serial No. 735,709 (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL P. YEATMAN, a citizen of .the UnitedjStates, residing at Beatrice, in the county of Gage and-State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Clothes-Line Tightener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clothes-line reels and tighteners, and has for its object to provide an improved device of this character having means for conveniently connecting the line thereto without forming knots in the line and at the same time permitting of the ready removal of the latter without cuttingV or otherwise damaging the same.

To these ends the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appendedv claim, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, andA minor details may be made within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure l isa perspective view of a clothes-line reel or tighteuer constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken longitudinally of the drum or reel. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the de vice. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the drum detached and illustrating the manner of connecting the clothes-line therewith.

Corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings are designated by like 'characters of reference.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a substantially U -shaped supporting-bracket, and 2 designates a shaft extending transversely between and having its opposite ends mounted in the opposite sides of the bracket.

. Mounted upon the shaft 2 is a drum 3, having the usual flanges 4 at opposite ends thereof. It will be understood thatA the shaft 2 is removable longitudinally through'the sides of the bracket, so as to facilitate the assembling of the drum and the shaft. To connect the drum to the shaft, there is provided a split pin 5, passing transversely through the drum and shaft and having its free ends 6 'spread or bent outwardly, so as to form stops engaging against the exterior of the drum and to prevent accidental displacement of the pin. The opposite end of this fastening device is provided with an eye 7 for a purpose as will be hereinafter more fully described. The drum is operated by means of a suitable crank 8, fitted to one end of the shaft 2 and located exteriorly of the bracket.

A ratchet device is provided by means of a gravity pawl or detent 9, pivoted between a pair of upstauding ears or lugs 10, which are located at the rear'end of the bracket and at oneside thereof, preferably opposite the crank 8. The free end of this pawl or detent is adapted to engage with a plurality of notches 11, formed in the periphery of the adjacent flange 4, so as to prevent unwinding of the drum.

To mount the device upon a post or other support, there is provided a substantially L- shaped screw-threaded fastening 12, which is designed to be set into the side of a post or other support 13, as shown in Fig. l. Projecting rearwardly from the transverse portion of the U-shaped bracket is a lug or ear 14, provided with a vertical perforation 15r for the reception of the angled and smooth portion 16 of the I -shaped fastening. It will thus be apparent that the bracket may be conveniently applied to the L-shaped fasten- Ving and may also be swung laterally thereon, so as to accommodate the device to the desired direction of the clothes-line. To prevent accidental displacement of the bracket, a suitable fastening 17 is passed transversely through the angled end of the L-shaped fastening and above the ear 14.

The manner of connecting the clothes-line 18 to the drum is best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings and is accomplished by passing the end 19 of the line rearwardly through the eye of the split fastening 5, the opening of such eye being disposed transversely of the drum, so as to facilitate the engagement of the clothes-line. After being passed through the eye the end of the clothes-'line is disposed longitudinally of the drum and at one side only of the eye 7, and the adjacent portion of the line is wrapped rearwardly over the end of the line and upon the drum. By this ar- IOO rangement the tension upon the line binds the Wrapped portion thereof tightly upon the 'end 19, and thereby firmly connects the line to the drum. Thus it is apparent that knots are dispensed With, and the line may be readily applied to and disconnected from the drum Without being cut or otherwise damaged.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the fastening device 5 besides connecting the drum to the shaft also forms a connection for the clothes-line, and such fastening has been provided with the stops 6, so

yas to prevent loosening of the fastening by 'eason of any pull occasioned by the clothesine.

What I claim is- A device of the class described comprising a fastening device having a vertical pivot provided With a perforation, a bracket having a rearwardly-extending perforated ear receiving the pivot, a pin or key 17 arranged in the perforation of the pivot and retaining the bracket thereon, the vertical lugs 10 projecting from the back portion of the bracket and located adjacent to onev side of the same, the shaft journaled in suitable bearings of the bracket, a drum mounted on the shaft and provided at one end With peripheral notches forming a ratchet, a fastening device secur# ing the drum to the shaft and adapted to fasL ten a clothes-line to the former, and the pawl 9 pivoted between the vertical ears and restL ing upon the adjacent end of the drum and engaging the said ratchet, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL P. YEATMAN.

Witnesses:

F. E. WHEELER, BERT. W. MANVILLE. 

